Pompey slipped to their first away league defeat of the season - and to third place - as Notts County came from a goal down to beat them 2-1 at Meadow Lane.

It was a disappointing outcome for the 2,000 fans who made the trip to the East Midlands and saw an entertaining game that their team should not have lost.

Pompey drew first blood on Hallowe'en when Kyle Bennett played in Enda Stevens and his cross was converted cy Caolan Lavery - his first goal for the Blues.

But the lead only lasted three minutes - County levelled when Graham Burke volleyed in from 20 yards after a free-kick was not effectively cleared.

It looked anyone's game for long spells and Pompey did have their passages of dominance, but the Magpies got the winner with 14 minutes left, and it was one Pompey's defence and keeper Brian Murphy will want to forget.

Ex-Fratton striker Izale McLeod was fouled 35 yards out and when Gavin Sheehan floated the free kick into the box it bounced and flew past Murphy without anyone touching it.

The late introduction of Matt Tubbs couldn't save Pompey from their first League Two slip-up on the road and the large travelling army went home disappointed.

The league takes a break next week as Pompey host Macclesfield in the FA Cup.

Pompey: Murphy; Davies, Burgess, Webster, Stevens; Hollands, Doyle (c); Evans, McGurk (Chaplin 67), Bennett (Tollitt 76); Lavery (Tubbs 80). Subs not used: Bass, Clarke, Atangana, Naismith

Referee: Andy Haines

Attendance: 6,917 (2,162 Pompey fans)

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